Southern comfort with a familiar pour
Ringgold (Greater Chattanooga Area) · Chattanooga · Southern Coastal (Seafood, Steaks, Southern Sides) · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 14, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at 1885 Grill Ringgold reads like a greatest hits of American grocery store shelves — Caymus, Josh, Kendall-Jackson, Meiomi. There's nothing here to surprise you, but there's also nothing to offend you. It's a list built for the table that just wants something easy with their shrimp and grits.
The list runs about 20-28 labels leaning heavily California, with a nod to Argentina via Trapiche Malbec and Italy via La Marca Prosecco. Don't come looking for Burgundy or a crisp Albariño — this is Cabernet country with a few blends thrown in for good measure. The Cooper & Thief Red Blend covers the sweet-spot crowd, and Meiomi Red shows up as the approachable middle ground. There are no major gaps per se, because the list doesn't aim high enough to have gaps — it covers the bases its clientele wants covered.
With an estimated 12-18 pours by the glass and prices running $6-$14, the BTG program is genuinely accessible for a sit-down Southern grill in this price range. Rotation appears minimal — this is a set-it-and-forget-it program rather than one with any seasonal curiosity. Still, at those prices, you can order a second glass without the guilt spiral.
Trapiche Malbec — $8
Trapiche punches above its price class consistently, and at the lower end of this list's pricing, it's the bottle that actually delivers structure and fruit without asking you to think too hard about it.
La Marca Prosecco
Most people walk past the Prosecco at a Southern grill and head straight for the Cab — don't. La Marca is clean, lively, and genuinely refreshing against the fried green tomatoes or anything with a cream sauce.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is a fine wine in the right context, but at a casual neighborhood grill you're paying a significant restaurant markup on a bottle that's already priced as a trophy wine at retail. The name recognition is doing most of the work here.
Trapiche Malbec + Shrimp and Grits
The Malbec's soft tannins and dark fruit don't bulldoze the shrimp the way a bigger Cab would, and it plays nicely against the richness of the grits and whatever sauce 1885 is running that night.
✔️ The Bottom Line
1885 Grill Ringgold won't change how you think about wine, but it won't embarrass you in front of your dinner date either. It's the reliable neighborhood option in a part of Greater Chattanooga where that actually counts for something.
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Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
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Occasional
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
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Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
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Proper
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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